Club tells two to take a hike

London - The Springbok Club in England has severed all ties with the two hikers walking across England to make people in this country aware of the large number of farm killings in South Africa.

Alan Harvey, chairperson of the Springbok Club, a British-South African organisation to which many former South Africans belong, said the club initially supported the initiative because many of its members were concerned over the number of farm murders in South Africa.

However, he says, it became clear to the club that Malcolm Wren, who calls himself an "English Boer" because of his love for the Afrikaner, and American journalist, Anthony LoBaido, were only seeking sympathy for the "Boer nation".

This, as well as the chaotic arrangements of the walk, led to the club deciding to withdraw its support.

The two hikers started out from Avonmouth near Bristol ten days ago and hope to complete the 300km hike in Gravesend, east of London, on Wednesday.

Wren and LoBaido tied about 1 500 yellow ribbons along the route in memory of South Africans who have lost their lives in farm attacks since 1994.

Harvey accused Wren of using the hike to make a name for himself and to impress the people of Orania in the Northern Cape, who support an Afrikaner enclave in South Africa.

In his reaction, Wren said the hike was his own idea and that he had funded it himself.

"I am not walking for recognition for myself, but out of love for Africa.

"I am not trying to impress the people of Orania, because I have already done that and own land there," he said.